The Future of Formula 1 Is Female — Here’s How the Sport Is Shattering Gender Barriers

Drive to Survive, a Netflix docuseries that offers a behind-the-scenes look at Formula 1 races and the lives of the drivers (on and off the track), has taken the U.S. by storm over its last six seasons. In fact, a 2022 survey revealed that 28% of Americans identified as F1 fans, with over half of these fans attributing their interest to the show. Now, enthusiasts are traveling worldwide to witness the excitement firsthand — and more women are joining than ever before.

Grand Prix Grand Tours, an F1 travel company providing all-inclusive packages for the sport’s most sought-after race weekends, recently informed Dinogo via email that nearly half of its customers are female fans.

"It's amazing to witness more women eager to explore the excitement of F1 events themselves. In the past, we often saw women purchasing F1 packages for male friends or relatives but rarely attending, leaving the men to enjoy the experience alone," said Simon Mawdsley, co-founder of Grand Prix Grand Tours. "While many women still buy trips for the men in their lives, they now intend to join them or add an extra ticket for the man's girlfriend or wife. This shift wasn't as common just a few years ago."

Part of this increase in participation may stem from the launch of the F1 Academy, an initiative by Formula One aimed at fostering female drivers and boosting their involvement in the sport. The group of 15 women, competing across three continents for the first time, recently completed the North American segment of their season at the Miami Grand Prix.

Abbi Pulling, an 18-year-old racer from the UK with six years of experience, dominated both Rounds 1 and 2 in Miami. With these two victories, along with another in March in Saudi Arabia, she's set to excel in upcoming events in Spain, the Netherlands, Singapore, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Competing alongside Pulling, who represents Rodin Motorsport, is French-born Lola Lovinfosse, who showcased another remarkable vehicle — the Charlotte Tilbury car, the first female-founded beauty brand to sponsor an F1 Academy race car. The custom vehicle features Charlotte Tilbury branding throughout, including the empowering motto, "Makeup Your Destiny!" and images from the "Hot Lips Icons" lipstick collection.

Naturally, the men's teams enjoy their share of excitement too. Whether in Japan, Australia, Monaco, or right here in the United States, F1 races are set in some of the globe's most desirable travel spots, making it an ideal sporting event to plan a getaway around. For those of us on the East Coast wanting to catch the action without straying too far from home, the third annual Miami Grand Prix was the clear choice.

The expansive grounds within the Hard Rock Stadium complex offered countless vantage points to see drivers speed around the 3.3-mile circuit, from grandstands to trackside suites. My chosen viewing location, the Liquid I.V. Race House, provided some of the best seats available. This year, the company partnered with the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix as its first-ever functional hydration partner — a crucial product for coping with the Miami heat, and a partnership that will continue for at least the next few years.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for us to forge a significant partnership with a sport that is truly at the forefront of culture," shared Stacey Andrade-Wells, VP of marketing for Liquid I.V. "We can connect with our consumers in a space where they are highly engaged and excited."

The top two levels of the Liquid I.V. race house featured open-air spaces with views of the track on both sides. One side was positioned directly across from the winner's podium, offering us a front-row seat to the historic moment when Lando Norris celebrated his first Grand Prix victory by spraying Ferrari Trento. The ground floor served as an indoor lounge with air conditioning, plenty of comfortable seating, catered meals, and a bar serving complimentary Liquid I.V. mocktails on a continuous rotation.

Want to live out an episode of "Drive to Survive" in real life? You can still grab tickets for F1 events in the U.S., including the Pirelli United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas (Oct. 18-20, 2024) and the second annual Las Vegas Grand Prix (Nov. 21-23, 2024) at tickets.formula1.com. If you're considering an international adventure, numerous races are scheduled across Europe, Asia, and South America for the rest of the year. Just remember to pack your Liquid I.V. for those trips — or plan to return to Miami for the F1 event in 2025 for the ultimate getaway with friends, partners, family, or even solo. Everyone is welcome!